“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.”

Go Deeper — Jesus wants us to live out of grace and forgiveness, not out of guilt. Be encouraged today. Reset your goals, if necessary, and live with freedom and joy.

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Go deeper — Carry this reassurance with you today, “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts” (Isaiah 57:15 NLT).

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“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”

Go Deeper — What do you worry about the most? Make a list and take it to God in prayer. Ask Him to help you see it from His point of view, and to see Him as ruler over it.

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“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Go Deeper — It’s easy to trust God when He agrees to provide what we want, but what about those other times? Think about what you are asking God to give you. Is it truly for the best?

Read Further — What is it like to truly Live By Faith despite what happens in life?

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“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Go Deeper — To get an insight into prayer, read the Psalms. Many are prayers from King David and others who were intimate enough with the Father to really express their feelings.

Read Further — Here are some simple prayers you can pray if you feel tongue-tied.

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“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Go Deeper — Assess your “house” to see how it’s developing. What are the values dear to your heart? List them so you can take action.

Read Further — You probably read The Three Little Pigs as a child. Read it again, this time thinking about Jesus as a firm foundation.

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“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of the Father who is in heaven.”

Go Deeper — Look up “lord” in the dictionary. Take some time to think about the definition and write down what must change in order for Jesus to truly be “Lord” of your life.

Read Further — Serving God by Serving Others, a good article by Rick Warren.

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“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Go Deeper — Where is your treasure? What if you had to give up all or most of your possessions tomorrow? What difference would it make? Know that God is the source of all true treasure, and rest in his love and provision today!

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“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Go Deeper – Pick out a few Bible verses that carry the word worry or the word anxious and write them down. Now flip the paper over and write down some verses that include the word trust. Make a list of any overwhelming concerns you have and then scratch them out, one by one, as you say out loud the verses you wrote.

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Go Deeper —Take time to read Matthew 5. As you read, ask yourself if you ensure that any teaching, interpretation, or application aligns with God’s written Word. Record your insights and commit to prayerfully, faithfully, and daily study God’s Word to minimize misinterpretation.

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